Recently by Padmini Mangunta
How much do you know about foodborne disease? With recent food scares plus those holiday dinners to prepare for, perhaps not as much as you should. Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), alongside a panel of food safety experts, spoke today with the Make Our Food Safe Campaign in an effort to raise food safety awareness and move toward legislation and protection for consumers before the end of 2009.
The campaign, comprised of public health organizations, consumer organizations, and groups representing the families of victims of foodborne illness, released a report today with the Center for Foodborne Illness (CFI), documenting the long-term impact of foodborne illness, especially on children.
Foodborne illnesses cause thousands of deaths each year and many, many more hospitalizations. What you may not know, however, is the serious long-term effects it can have on those most vulnerable, children, the elderly and pregnant women. The most frightening consequences can include kidney failure, mental retardation and diabetes.
The campaign is attacking the problem from several fronts, including bipartisan legislation by Senator Casey and Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). The Eat Safe Act aims to bring an end to food smuggling in the United States; the Act would ensure that importers who bypass the Department of Agriculture's re-inspection process would be subject to civil penalties.
Most importantly, the campaign demands food safety guidelines to be implemented, better documentation and monitoring of foodborne illness, and recognition of foodborne illness as a serious public health issue.
The Make Our Food Safe Campaign includes the following organizations: American Public Health Association, Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of American, Consumers Union, Food & Water Watch, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Safe Tables Our Priority, and Trust for America's Health.
Visit makeourfoodsafe.org for more information about the campaign and how you can make a difference.
Last week the iVillage community reacted to a video produced by the White House on health care reform featuring the first lady, Michelle Obama It sparked nearly two hundred comments and questions. This week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius answered some of the most pressing questions you posed.
Here are some highlights from the video response.
1. On pre-existing conditions, Sebelius says, "One of the new features of new insurance marketplace is....insurance companies will no longer be able to eliminate folks based on a pre-existing condition; there will be a limit for how much they can charge for out-of-pocket costs." (Time on video: 8:55)
2. On concern about employers dropping coverage: "Employers will have to offer coverage or pay into a fund so that the employees can better afford to buy coverage on their own. Nothing in today's market prevents an employer from dropping coverage, unfortunately." (Time on video: 6:55)
3. On women's health issues like maternity leave: "Too many policies have no maternity coverage at all," replies Sebelius. "That has to change." (Time on video: 5:10)
4. On keeping quality doctors: "If they don't pass this bill," says Sebelius, "doctors who accept Medicare will be getting a 21 percent cut in pay--so they'll be dropping older patients. This will make sure that won't happen." (Time on video: 3:39)
Some women worry that corporations will let the health benefits burden fall to the government. "Given my recent experiences with how the government handles the current managed plans we already have in place (i.e. Medicaid), I do not trust the government one bit with my health care decisions," says user mombitsey.
For one mom, the results of the health care debate is the difference between being a stay-at-home mom and going back to work. From iVillage mom amyogini, "...this whole insurance issue has become quite possible the hinging factor on whether I go back to work full-time after my 3rd child. We like the public option...oh wait. There is no public option."
Others are concerned that their children will continue to suffer if reform doesn't come soon. User midlifegal says, "I am very unhappy that my kids, both college educated, are struggling to pay for insurance and the high deductibles that they have. I do worry for my kids and hope that some kind of reform is coming."
Meanwhile, others just want to be heard amidst the angry voices on both sides of the debate. "I can't image showing up at a public event and shouting people down. With that said, I do think that some of these"town halls are really campaign events. I often feel like I"m not being heard. I can understand the frustration, but I can't see that shouting would produce anything more than publicity," says lj_jacieb.
Share your concerns, thoughts or solutions on health care reform on our Women and Politics message board.
Giving babies Tylenol may blunt vaccine effects
Shortage of shots as more kids die of swine flu
Senate proposals put premium on healthy living
Take a deep breath -- more bad news on air pollution
Have something to say about what you've read? Share your thoughts on one of the YourTotalHealth message boards.
Bookmark Health Beat and follow us on TwitterAs another week comes to an end, catch up on any health news or commentary you may have missed.
- Coming soon: $500 for every newborn?
- Gadget to help women feign virginity angers many in Egypt
- Report: More than 1 million preemies die in first month annually
- Domestic violence as pre-existing condition? 8 states still allow it
- Woman paralyzed after severe food poisoning from hamburger
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Tylenol recalls some children's medications
Michelle Obama: Happy and Healthy in Prevention magazine
Why women cry more than men (and etc.)
Alcohol may protect the brain in an accident
Health concerns over popular contraceptives
Have something to say about what you've read? Share your thoughts on one of the YourTotalHealth message boards.
Bookmark Health Beat and follow us on TwitterTylenol recalls some children's medications
Most parents won't have kids get H1N1 flu shots, study finds
Breast cancer ads use lechery for good
For first time, a vaccine helps prevent HIV
Woman gets pregnant while pregnant
Spanking detrimental to children, study says
Have something to say about what you've read? Share your thoughts on one of the YourTotalHealth message boards.
Bookmark Health Beat and follow us on TwitterA new survey finds that only 40% of parents are planning to have their kids vaccinated. Of those who responded that they would not, almost half (46%) said they didn't believe their children would contract the virus; 20% said they didn't believe swine flu was a serious concern. Meanwhile, 54% of respondents said that they will get their children vaccinated for the seasonal flu.
The survey also shows clear differentiation along racial lines -- more than half of Hispanic parents will vaccinate their children against swine flu, compared to 38% of white parents and 30% of black parents.
Confusion over potential risk seems to play a large part in the low numbers -- according to the survey, many parents believe swine flu and seasonal flu pose the same threat to their children.
That confusion can only be expected, with information about the swine flu coming in daily and often changing. However, while the serious complications of seasonal flu tends to spare young kids, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stresses that the swine flu strain is new and different -- it tends to strike hardest in children, young adults and pregnant women.
For more information to help you make your own decision, check out iVillage's Swine Flu Survival Guide.
Related Links
Should I be worried about getting the swine flu vaccine for my kids?
What you need to know about H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines
Swine Flu information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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As another week winds to an end, take a look at some of the top stories and commentary in health this week.
The key to good health? Walking on all fours
The sad, shocking truth about how women are feeling
Teen birth rates highest in most religious states
What sort of exercise can make you smarter?
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If the results hold true, the number of people who can be vaccinated could be doubled, though two doses may still be needed for young children.
120 of the adults in the trial were given one 15-microgram shot and their blood tested 21 days later. 97 percent of this group responded well, showing enough antibodies for protection from the H1N1 virus. Another group of adults was given double the dose, 30-micrograms, resulting in the same amount of protection.
The Australian vaccine manufacturers, CSL Limited, is contracted to supply the United States with millions of doses of the vaccine; the president of the American branch expects the vaccine to do just as well in trials here. In fact, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, agrees, saying that trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health corroborate the Australian trials.
More good news - side effects experienced by approximately half the trial's participants were limited to the normal and mild side effects of the seasonal flu vaccine, including soreness at the injection site and headaches.
The vaccine most likely will not be available until late October. This estimated arrival date may miss the mark, according to a new study. "If the H1N1 flu follows the pattern we are expecting we should see a sizable outbreak in the U.S. starting in early September and probably peaking in mid- to late- October," says Ira Longini, a professor of biostatistics at the University of Washington in Seattle and lead researcher.
However, Longini still recommends getting vaccinated, as swine flu is expected to linger in the population for around 20 years, with more outbreaks predicted this winter and spring and in the years to come.
Have swine flu questions and looking for answers? Explore iVillage's Swine Flu Survival Guide.
More swine flu news:
Get your vaccine for seasonal flu, experts urge
Swine flu shots may come too late to stem fall outbreak
Get your vaccine for seasonal flu, experts urge
One Vaccine Shot Seen as Protective for Swine Flu
Regimens: Habits Help in Avoiding Breast Cancer, Study Finds
Want the dream marriage? Then sleep in separate beds
Green onions recalled over salmonella fears
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How do we stop the epidemic of childhood obesity? Get our own weight under control first. A new study found that weight-loss surgery before becoming pregnant might break the cycle of obesity in families. But do the effects of weight-loss surgery outweigh the benefits of simply teaching your kids healthy eating habits?
The new research found that undergoing weight-loss surgery prior to pregnancy can significantly lower your child's risk of obesity and improve cardio-metabolic markers (indicators of a person's risk of diabetes and heart disease).
The findings confirm previous research that a healthy weight before and during pregnancy may be more influential than genes when it comes to the connection between a mother's obesity and her child's chances of childhood obesity, according to study co-author John Kral, MD, PhD.
The 49 mothers in the study had children born both before and after they underwent weight-loss surgery. Researchers found that the children born after the surgery were three times less likely to become severely obese. They also found that those children had lower cholesterol and reduced insulin resistance.
So is surgery the only way to pass on these benefits to your child? While the study focused specifically on surgical methods, Kral said in a statement, "To our knowledge, our paper is the first to demonstrate that dramatic maternal weight loss causes metabolic improvements in their children," said Kral. "Our findings show that obese women should be encouraged to lose weight before becoming pregnant, and then, once pregnant, should limit their weight gain."
Amy Hendel, a family lifestyle therapist and author of Fat Families, Thin Families, doesn't find the results of the study too surprising, but hesitates to attribute them solely to surgical intervention. Hendel ultimately believes it's the commitment to weight loss itself that contributes to a sustained, long-term healthy weight.
"It's obvious to me that children can be born with a pre-disposition to easier weight gain due to familial inherited biomarkers and also exposure in utero to certain nutritional variables," says Hendel. "On the other hand, even with a predisposition, what happens outside the womb will ultimately help to strongly determine weight, food and palate preferences, because our parents are our role models for nutrition and fitness behaviors. From my perspective as a family lifestyle therapist, that's far more crucial to long term weight and health issues in our offspring."
Most importantly, what both the study and Hendel seem agree on is the earlier a woman makes the commitment to weight loss, the healthier her future child is likely to be.
Take your bad news lying down
College swine flu cases spike as classes begin
Propofol dosage reported in Michael Jackson case is low, experts say
Runner's high can turn into a real addiction
Tobacco to kill nearly 6 million next year
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Padmini Mangunta
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Health is the hot topic these days with health care reform and swine flu all over the media. Here are some highlights from this week in news and commentary -- your weekly dose of health information:
Talking to Patients About Life's End
Health Reform: Obama Talks Religion, Grassley Talks Moderation
Swine Flu Update: Public's Calm; Are Businesses Ready?
s That Right? Rice Krispies Boost Immunity
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Padmini Mangunta
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It was another busy week for some of our favorite health websites and blogs. Here are some highlights from this week's news and commentary, your weekly dose of health information:
Rethinking MRI's for Some Breast Cancer Patients
Screening Could Lead to More Potent Cancer Drugs
Cops: Mom Poisoned Tot to get dad's attention
Weight lifting may help breast cancer survivors
Chocolate cuts death rate in heart attack survivors
Have something to say about what you've read? Share your thoughts on one of the YourTotalHealth message boards.
Padmini Mangunta
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Those who seem to function just fine on a few hours of sleep may be more than lucky - they may have a genetic mutation that helps them get by.
Ying-Hui Fu, a professor of neurology at the University of California at San Francisco and co-author of a new study on the gene mutation, says about 5% of people can function normally on 6 or less hours of sleep, compared to the 7-9 hours the rest of us need.
Unfortunately, the mutation is quite rare. Only one family out of the 70 families in the UCSF sleep study database carried it - a mother-daughter pair who are fine on 6 hours of sleep compared with the rest of their family.
Fu's dream is to manufacture a drug that allows us to sleep less and function normally, though that's a long way off at the moment. Researchers are still not sure how the gene affect's sleep patterns.
In the meantime, we should remember how important a good night's rest is for those of us not carrying the mutation - benefits include weight loss, healthier looking skin and even longer life!
The Restorative Power of Sleep
Sleep Your Way Slimmer
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Padmini Mangunta
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If you have a computer and a symptom, chances are you've turned to Dr. Google to help you figure out your diagnosis. But how do you know when you're getting reliable information? We asked Lisa Sanders, M.D., author of Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis, for her advice on taking your diagnosis into your own hands.Q: How good is Google at making a diagnosis?
A: Not as good as you might hope. Two doctors in Australia fed Google the key symptoms for tough diagnostic cases taken from the pages of the New England Journal of Medicine. Google came up with a correct diagnosis barely half the time. On the other hand, most of the time symptoms are caused by common diseases and so the internet, and Google in particular, may be useful in helping many of us get a better grip on the possible causes of those symptoms.
Q: So can we trust the information we get online?
A: Increasingly, yes. Earlier this year, a study published in the journal Cancer looked at 343 Web pages about breast cancer found through online searches. Study researchers found 41 inaccuracies on 18 of the 343 sites -- giving the information search an error rate of 5.2 percent. That's not bad really. Plus, Google gives priority to sites that have been vetted by respected medical organizations such as the National Medical Library.
Q: Getting a simple answer out of Google can be a challenge. You say that a search for "headache" results in 26 million hits. What are some steps a person can take to get a more accurate online diagnosis?
A: There are a few things you can do to help you get a little closer to the right diagnosis.
1. Be as specific as possible. Don't just put in headache unless you are prepared to look through hundreds of sites. What are the unusual aspects of your headache? For example, is it a throbbing headache on one side of your head? Search unilateral throbbing headache. Highlighting one or two of the characteristic of your symptom can make your search easier.
2. If you can't limit your search by making it more specific then add the name of a source you trust to the search. You can search "diarrhea Mayo" and get the Mayo clinic take on diarrhea. Other reliable sources include NIH (National Library of Medicine), Medline, Healthline, WebMD and of course, YourTotalHealth . These sources are like giant encyclopedias of medical information and provide good basic information on many symptoms and lists possible causes.
3. Use the appropriate medical terms when you can. But you have to be careful not to give yourself a diagnosis that will then become a self fulfilling prophecy. For example, if you have a cough and search bronchitis, you will miss other types of cough that might fit what you actually have better. I think this works best when your doctor has already given you a name for your symptom.
4. Use a search engine designed to pull up reliable health information, such as http://www.hon.ch/. HON stands for Health On the Net and is a non-commercial site accredited by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. All of the sites shown have been vetted by the Health on the NetFoundation.
Lisa Sanders, M.D., is the author of Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis, published by Broadway Books.
Q: How good is Google at making a diagnosis?
A: Not as good as you might hope. Two doctors in Australia fed Google the key symptoms for tough diagnostic cases taken from the pages of the New England Journal of Medicine. Google came up with a correct diagnosis barely half the time. On the other hand, most of the time symptoms are caused by common diseases and so the internet, and Google in particular, may be useful in helping many of us get a better grip on the possible causes of those symptoms.
Q: So can we trust the information we get online?
A: Increasingly, yes. Earlier this year, a study published in the journal Cancer looked at 343 Web pages about breast cancer found through online searches. Study researchers found 41 inaccuracies on 18 of the 343 sites -- giving the information search an error rate of 5.2 percent. That's not bad really. Plus, Google gives priority to sites that have been vetted by respected medical organizations such as the National Medical Library.
Q: Getting a simple answer out of Google can be a challenge. You say that a search for "headache" results in 26 million hits. What are some steps a person can take to get a more accurate online diagnosis?
A: There are a few things you can do to help you get a little closer to the right diagnosis.
1. Be as specific as possible. Don't just put in headache unless you are prepared to look through hundreds of sites. What are the unusual aspects of your headache? For example, is it a throbbing headache on one side of your head? (search unilateral throbbing headache) Highlighting one or two of the characteristic of your symptom can make your search easier.
2. If you can't limit your search by making it more specific then add the name of a source you trust to the search. You can search "diarrhea Mayo" and get the Mayo clinic take on diarrhea. Other reliable sources include NIH (National Library of Medicine), Medline, Healthline, WebMD and of course, YourTotalHealth. These sources are like giant encyclopedias of medical information and provide good basic information on many symptoms and lists possible causes.
3. Use the appropriate medical terms when you can. But you have to be careful not to give yourself a diagnosis that will then become a self fulfilling prophecy. For example, if you have a cough and search bronchitis, you will miss other types of cough that might fit what you actually have better. I think this works best when your doctor has already given you the name of your symptom.
4. Use a search engine designed to pull up reliable health information, such as http://www.hon.ch/. HON stands for Health On the Net and is a non-commercial site accredited by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. All of the sites shown have been vetted by the Health on the NetFoundation.
Lisa Sanders, M.D., is the author of EVERY PATIENT TELLS A STORY: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis, published by Broadway Books.
DUIs Up in Women
Who's to Blame for a Missed Diagnosis?
In Time of Swine Flu, Add Sanitizer, Tissue to School Supply List
Hispanics Cancer Risk Goes Up Once in U.S.
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Padmini Mangunta
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I know I'm not alone, so that helps a little. What helps even more is learning there is logic behind the belly-fat madness.
Studies have recently found that two common lifestyle factors -- stress and financial debt -- can significantly add to your waistline.
In a study out of Germany, researchers found that obesity tends to rise along with the rising burden of your finances.
The study followed 9000 people and found that a full quarter of those in debt were considered medically obese, compared to only 11 percent of those not in debt.
The study adds that there might be certain lifestyle choices linked to the debt, such as "comfort eating" and food choices determined by financial restrictions -- as we've all experienced at the grocery store, the "healthy" choice often seems to be the most expensive.
Financial debt and stress usually go together, and stress is the subject of another study.
When monkeys were fed an American diet to get fat, researchers found that those under chronic stress put on more belly fat.
During the study, high-stress monkeys had high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Over time, the hormone caused fat to gather in the belly.
If you're like me, these two studies are a great incentive to get the finances in order and learn to calm down.
So why are we so ready to turn to alternatives to "Western" medicine? While the study didn't ask participants why they used these methods, anecodatal evidence seems to support a variety of reasons, including distrust of the medical establishment and cheaper cost.
Only 1/3 of these costs went toward visits with practitioners such as naturopaths. The other 2/3 went to self-care purchases, which includes everything from yoga classes to nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products like fish oil and echinacea.
The American Association of Medication (AMA) isn't ready to jump on board just yet, and cites the need for more research into the effectiveness of alternative medicine.
However, most practitioners of naturopathic care advocate working alongside Western medicine, not in opposition to.
But be careful when purchasing those self-care supplements -naturopathic doctors worry that people might equate "natural" with "safe". According to Marnie Loomis, N.D., a director of professional formation at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR, "The use of them is very complex. There is a lot of science that goes into choosing the right one."
Getting Sick on Vacation
Sarkozy's Cautionary Tale
Is That Right? "Eating Organic Food Just Makes Sense"
More People Use, and Believe In, Psychiatric Drugs
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Padmini Mangunta
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Our New Celebrity Obsession
The Medical Tourist
Should the Surgeon General be Slender?
Is That Right? Crystal Light Makes Women Drink More Water
Whole Mice Created from Stem Cells
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Padmini Mangunta
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Apparently I'm not alone. A new study commissioned by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) found that most young adults aged 18 to 26 are woefully unaware of the steps they should be taking to avoid vaccine-preventable diseases.
According to Dr. William Schaffner, NFID president-elect, 50,000 adults die in United States each year as the result of diseases that are potentially vaccine-preventable.
Some statistics:
- 84 % of Americans over 50 know they need to get a new tetanus shot every 10 years, compared to only 49 % of adults aged 18 to 26.
- Only 30 % of young adults knew that the flu, which is preventable with a vaccine, kills almost 40,000 Americans a year. Compare this to the 59% of those older than 50, who are aware of the benefits of the flu vaccine.
It's really all about awareness, says NFID medical director, Dr. Susan J. Rehm, and she's hoping doctors will up their own awareness of adult vaccinations and spread this information to their patients.
The good news is, 87% of adults are likely to get vaccinated if their doctor advises it.
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When Overeating Starts Early
Vitamin Water Breakdown
For Suicide, Why Wednesday?
Food Deserts
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Padmini Mangunta
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Michael Jackson: The Dark Side of Concierge Medicine
Swine Flu Update: Vaccine for Kids, Tamiflu Resistance
Are You an Early Bird or a Night Owl
A Running Shoe with a Greener Footprint
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Padmini Mangunta
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For many women, the old adage "better safe than sorry" has a
lot of weight when deciding whether to be screened for breast cancer. However,
a recent study out of Denmark says that one in three breast cancers detected by a
screening mammogram may be treated unnecessarily - and cause unnecessary
trauma.
The study, conducted by Karsten Jorgensen and Peter Gotzsche
of the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen, confirms that more cases of breast
cancer are discovered once screening programs began. In theory, a successful screening program results in a drop in cancer detection in older women, since these cases would be caught at a screening at an earlier age. Instead, the
study found that the number of cases in women aged between 50 and 69 simply
grew to thousands more than were identified earlier.
Some cancers grow too slowly to affect a patient, but it's
impossible to distinguish between these slow-moving cancers and those that are
deadly. For this reason, any cancer found is treated.
The final diagnosis? Jorgensen and Gotzsche say there are
negative consequences in treating women for breast cancer unnecessarily,
including psychological damage and harmful side effects.
Have an opinion? Share your thoughts on our message boards.
Dr. Nancy Snyderman debates the issue on her show:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Celiac Disease is Becoming More Common
Two Anti-Smoking Drugs to Carry Mental-Health Warnings
Acetaminophen Worries
Billy Mays, OxiClean Pitchman, Found Dead
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Padmini Mangunta
Shooting off fireworks (or just watching them), firing up the grill, jumping in the lake for a quick swim -- much-loved traditions that countless people will enjoy this 4th of July.Unfortunately, July 4th celebrations are also cause for a high incidence in drownings, firework mishaps, car accidents and other safety concerns. This weekend, take steps to enjoy a safe and stress-free holiday. Some quick tips:
Fireworks
- Never allow young children to handle fireworks.
- Shoot fireworks in a large, open space far away from houses, flammable objects and people.
- Alcohol is one of the largest contributors to drownings; don't drink in or around the water. It will impair your senses and make it harder to react to an emergency.
- Keep a close eye on children in and around the water. Remember, most drowning children don't cry for help or wave their hands for help.
- July has the most driving fatalities than any other month. Don't become distracted by phones, music, or passengers.
- Also remember to pay attention when you are walking. Almost half of pedestrian accidents in children reported in the ER occur during the summer.
- Try to stay out of the sun between the hours of 10am and 4pm.
- Hydrate -- drink water even when you aren't thirsty.
- Watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion such as heavy sweating, intense thirst, dizziness and nausea.
Summer Safety
In the Swim: Dog Water Safety
5 Tips for Driving Safely in the Rain
